Zuma promises lower telecoms tariffs

In his state of the nation address, delivered to parliament in Cape Town on Thursday evening, President Jacob Zuma promised a reduction in broadband, cellphone, land-line and public telephone tariffs.

However, he did not provide any details about how government intended to achieve this outcome.

“As part of our efforts to encourage greater economic growth, we are working to reduce the cost to communicate,” Zuma said. “ We will work to increase broadband speed and ensure a high standard of Internet service, in line with international norms.”

Zuma’s predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, made similar promises during his tenure. Mbeki established local and international technology advisory groups to help him find, among other things, ways of reducing SA’s stubbornly high broadband costs.

However, the former president, and his communications minister, Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, implemented few of the recommendations that were put to him. — Staff reporter, TechCentral